Past Seal of Approval Reports | TNPC Home | TNPC Mall | Boards/Chat for Parents
The National Parenting Center and its Seal of Approval are registered United States trademarks
The
Family Bond
Book
Ends Publishing
Books on the subject of parenting need to do more that
just inform, they need to enlighten, encourage and when at all possible,
inspire. The Family Bond is such a
book. Inside you will find a wealth
of wonderful ideas and exercises that are designed to bring families closer
together. At the core of this
approach is the author's belief that when a member of a family discovers and
appreciates the unique individuality that exists within the other family
members, that true family bond can be forged.
This is not a heavy-handed book, indeed it is in fact a lighthearted
read, with good lessons, written in short, easy-to-digest format. Parents told us that they liked the summarizing quotes at the
end of each chapter.
Price: $12.95
The
Parents Toolshop: The Universal Blueprint for Building a Healthy Family
Ambris Publishing
Some parenting books attempt to give snippets of advice or
helpful guidance on an issue or two. Not
so with the Parent's Toolshop, a hefty and prodigious work to be sure.
By using the analogy of designing a house to build a strong foundation by
which parents can raise their children, other books would be building birdhouses
in comparison. In terms of
quantity, this is a significant effort and, like parenting itself, one not to be
taken lightly. There are superb
examples, ideas, discussions, and guidelines here, but the sheer volume can be
overwhelming. If you are a parent,
looking for an in depth examination and blueprint for the job at hand, The
Parent's Toolshop can be just what the doctor ordered.
Price: $24.95
HairClean
1-2-3
Quantum, Inc.
The scourge of lice is a never-ending battle that school
nurses and so many parents have to frequently struggle against.
There are a number of chemical products on the shelves that promise to
rid your child's head of these creepy crawlies, but time and again, parents
would tell us how much they hated using such harsh methods on their children's
heads. Using a combination of
natural ingredients, including anise, clearly the most recognizable, giving the
product a licorice scent, we were told that in fact Hair Clean did rid their
children's hair of lice. This is
not a one shot cure, in fact repeated treatments are required, but when used
properly, this can dispose of lice painlessly and safely.
Price: $16.99 - 1 oz. $24.99 - 2 oz.
Elite
Child Carrier
Kelty K.I.D.S.
If you are hiker who loves to experience the outdoors
together with your children but they just can't keep up yet, then you should set
your sites on this child carrying backpack. Not necessarily for the casual user who wants a free pair of
hands in the mall, this is a top of the line unit and the price reflects the
quality. Parents told us that they
had never experienced a carrier that addressed the issue of distributing weight
so efficiently. This really must be
considered a top of the line system, from the superbly padded shoulder straps
and belt, to the comfortable child compartment that comes with its own foul
weather protection built in. Parents
also noted the generous number of useful compartments for bottles and other
essential equipment, Kelty really thought of everything here.
Parents with children from 6 mos. to 4 years Price: $180.00
Family
Health Charts
Peace
of Mind Publishing
If you are a busy parent (and, of course you are) we found
these Family Health Charts to be a very useful tool to help you keep track of
medication and dosages for your children. Designed
to post right up on the fridge, which is the best place for making sure it stays
in plain sight. By marking dosages
on this handy chart, you can ensure that you are leaving nothing to chance when
it comes to the possibility of missing or doubling up.
Very helpful if different people are administering like Mom, Dad,
caregiver etc. A simple enough
idea, but one that helps avoid confusion, something you don't need in your busy
life.
Price: $5 per pad - $12 dry erase board
Family
Travel Forum
Family
Travel Forum, Inc.
The needs and desires of the family traveler are quite
different from those people who are taking off without little one's in tow.
The Family Travel Forum is a destination for parents who want to do the
research necessary before setting out on a journey.
The web site features reviews, bulletin boards and general
recommendations from like-minded travelers.
The membership option opens up a deeper treasure of information and
advice. If you are a frequent traveler then the annual membership
might be best for you, however, if you are planning a single trip, then a one
month membership could do the trick. There
is a newsletter that full time members receive, it is jam packed with
information. Parents told us that
as they perused both the site and the newsletter that they felt the urge of
wanderlust tugging at their consciousness.
Price: From $48 per year to $2.95 per month
For more information about The Seal of Approval or The National
Parenting Center
call: 1-800-753-6667
Hosted by VectraNet Communications
http://www.vectranet.com
Last Update: April 12, 2000